Trump calls Clinton 'close to unhinged,' assures he's pro-baby

DES MOINES, Iowa — After an off-message week, Donald Trump finally hit his stride Friday afternoon, spending nearly the entirety of his hour long remarks attacking Hillary Clinton and predicting "destruction of this country from within" should she win in November.

"We're going to be talking about the Queen of Corruption," Trump previewed at the top of his remarks. He stayed true to his word, rarely shifting off his anti-Clinton message. When he did stray, he used the time to disparage the media and set the record straight on headlines regarding a baby that Trump, perhaps jokingly, kicked out of his rally earlier in the week.

The GOP nominee questioned Clinton's policy judgment and stability repeatedly, in front of a crowd that chanted "lock her up," called her a "traitor," and one woman who labeled Clinton a "liar, liar, pants on fire."

"She's pretty close to unhinged and you've seen it," Trump said, adding that she's "like an unbalanced person."

"If Hillary Clinton becomes president you will have, you will have terrorism, you will have problems, you will have, really, in my opinion, the destruction of this country from within," Trump told the crowd.

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Mitt Romney has been critical of Trump's rhetoric. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

Senator John Thune (R-SD) addresses delegates during the third session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, was one of Donald Trump's primary targets during the primary season.

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Former Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Governor John Kasich stayed in the primary longer than most other candidates, and notably refused to appear at the GOP convention in the same arena with Trump, attending other events instead. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a close friend to Sen. John McCain, has been a vocal critic of Trump's. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

UPDATE: Although he didn't endorse Trump during the 2016 convention, Ted Cruz eventually changed his mind, saying in September he'd vote for the GOP nominee (Photo by Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images)

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) addresses the second session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 28, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

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At times referencing notes, Trump ticked down a list of attacks against his Democratic rival, including her lack of press conferences, use of a private email server, and policy decisions that Trump says have resulted in, and will continue to breed, chaos.

Speaking at length about Iran and the drop of $400 million in various currenciesby the U.S. into the country, Trump reminded of Clinton's role in the administration's policy toward Iran. "Hillary supports and helped create Obama's disastrous Iran deal," Trump said, adding that Secretary of State John Kerry "finished it."

Pence, for his part, joined in on the attack, earning some laughs when criticizing Clinton for her answer Friday afternoon that she "may have short circuited" on her untrue characterization of FBI Director Comey's statements on her email server. The Indiana gov also carried the campaign's false assertions that Clinton said she would raise taxes on the middle class during a rally in Omaha earlier in the week.

Trump seemed aware of his VP's appeal, telling the crowd they didn't need to like him to vote for the GOP ticket. "If you don't like me, that's OK," Trump assured. "Vote for Pence! Because it's the same thing."

The Republican nominee also sought to set the record straight about his stance on babies at his rallies, after calling for a baby to be removed from his rally earlier in the week in Ashburn, Virginia after it continued to interrupt his remarks. "You can get that baby out of here," Trump said Tuesday, minutes after he told the mother "don't worry about that baby, I love babies."

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CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19: Eric Trump on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protestors and members of the media. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/WireImage)

Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany speaks to delegates on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
About 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland this week for the Republican National Convention, at which Donald Trump is expected to be formally nominated to run for the US presidency in November. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19:
Family of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump make their way to the New York delegation to participate in the roll call during the second day of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19: Delegates from New York and Donald Trump's family including Donald, Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany celebrate after the nominating process for the state of New York
during the second day of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19: Tiffany Trump leaves the stage on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protestors and members of the media. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/WireImage)

Eric Trump (R), son of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and his wife Lara Yunaska applaud at the end of Donald Trump Jr's speech on the second day of the Republican National Convention (RNC), July 19, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. / AFP / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19: Delegates from New York and Donald Trump's family including Donald, Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany celebrate after the nominating process for the state of New York
during the second day of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19: Ivanka Trump on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protestors and members of the media. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/WireImage)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 19: Tiffany Trump speaks at the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protestors and members of the media. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/WireImage)

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Now the GOP standard bearer is rehashing the non-controversy on his own terms and using it as yet another example of the media he seems convinced is out to get him. Setting the scene, Trump told a subdued yet supportive Iowa crowd that a "beautiful baby" was crying — "this baby could've been Pavarotti!" He jokingly suggested getting the baby "training" so it could become like the renowned opera star.

As the nominee tells it, his first instinct was to "keep the baby, don't worry about it." But "then, after about 2 minutes I said I'm going to counteract my order. If you take that baby outside it's not so bad," Trump said.

"The press came out with headlines: 'Trump throws baby out of arena.' So dishonest," Trump said.

The nominee has recently blitzed the media for what he feels is continued unfair coverage of his campaign. His campaign has even come out with a "Media Bias of the Day" email that highlights one particular outlet or network for their work. Crowds at these rallies have noticed the uptick in anti-media talk — and some even assume the mantle on behalf of their candidate. Before Friday's rally, one man patrolled the press pen, asking reporters, "Are you trashing Trump today?"

As Trump closed out his rally, he warned once again of the press: "You'll read a story tomorrow and you'll hear everything very differently from what we all know it is. Like the baby! I love that baby!"